House approves new pursuit penalties

Ken Dixon

Updated 9:45 pm, Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Stamford Police officer Troy Strauser works out on the arm bike during his therapy session at Coastal Hand Therapy in Norwalk, CT on Monday July 2nd, 2012. Officer Strauser was injured while chasing a robbery suspect this past May.

Photo: Mark Conrad

Stamford Police officer Troy Strauser works out on the arm bike...

Stamford Police officer Troy Strauser and his wife Torey Strauser during a break in a therapy session Troy was having at Coastal Hand Therapy in Nowralk, CT on Monday July 2nd, 2012. Officer Strauser was injured while chasing a robbery suspect this past May.

Photo: Mark Conrad

Stamford Police officer Troy Strauser and his wife Torey Strauser...

Certified hand therapist, Lisa Maggiore works with Stamford Police officer Troy Strauser on trying to increase the range of motion of Troy's arm. Troy was receiving therapy for his arm at Coastal Hand Therapy in Nowralk, CT on Monday July 2nd, 2012. Officer Strauser was injured while chasing a robbery suspect this past May.

Photo: Mark Conrad

Certified hand therapist, Lisa Maggiore works with Stamford Police...

During a therapy session at Coastal Hand Therapy in Nowralk, CT on Monday July 2nd, 2012, certified hand therapist, Lisa Maggiore shows Stamford Police officer Troy Strauser how a new brace she devised will work. The brace will passively apply pressure to increase the range in which he can extend his arm. Officer Strauser was injured while chasing a robbery suspect this past May.

HARTFORD -- Nearly a year after Stamford police officer Troy Strauser was critically injured after falling 20 feet from a bridge while chasing a robbery suspect on foot, the state House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill Tuesday that would enhance criminal penalties in such occurences.

The bill, which passed 142-0, next heads to the Senate.

State Rep. Gerald M. Fox III, D-Stamford, co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said the legislation was proposed this year to protect police, firefighters -- and even bystanders -- who are injured or hurt during incidents when criminal suspects are on foot.

On May 17, 2012, Strauser, now 39, injured his arm and face while pursuing Frank Douglas, now 31, in Norwalk.

"The prosecutor and the judge were equally frustrated in that they were limited to the misdemeanor penalty they could impose when they felt the penalty should be somewhat higher," Fox said during the House floor debate.

If the bill becomes law, it would make it a Class D felony, punishable by five years in prison and a $5,000 fine, to engage an officer or firefighter in foot pursuit that results in serious injury or death. It is now a Class A misdemeanor.

"In bringing this up to a felony level, it is something that would certainly make it a much more stricter action that could be penalized," Fox said.

Suspects who engage police in vehicular pursuit resulting in injury or death now face Class C felonies, punishable by 10 years in prison and $10,000 fines.

Strauser, who has not yet returned to work because of his injuries, said in a phone interview Tuesday he was very thankful to Fox, assistant State's Attorney David Applegate and Stamford police union head Sgt. Joseph Kennedy for pushing for the new law.

"I am very, very grateful," he said. "The whole point of doing this was finding out that they can't do much for someone in my situation. I was shocked and dumbfounded ... I was upset that someone could just have such disregard for the police and the public and only get a misdemeanor conviction, even when you are dealing with life-threatening injuries."

Strauser, who underwent surgery two weeks ago on his arm, which was nearly severed in the fall, said he hopes that what happened to him never happens to anyone else.

Applegate said he also was pleased by the representatives' vote on the bill.

"I told Troy that I would do my best. He was very frustrated with how the law was written. At the time he fell, he could have easy been killed and there wasn't enough protection for police officers," Applegate said. "This should add a lot of clarity to what could be a confusing statute.

"I am happy there will be some change there. I know that's what Troy wants."

Kennedy said the bill would fix a "gaping hole" in the statute covering peace officer assaults.

"It shows that the judicial system and citizenry has your back and when someone puts you in harm's way you will be held accountable," Kennedy said.

Stamford Police Chief Jon Fontneau said, "It is important to put some teeth into the law to make someone to think twice about running from a police officer. This change behooves everyone, and I an very happy to hear that it has such support."

Under questioning by state Rep. Rosa C. Rebimbas, R-Naugatuck, ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, Fox said that injury to bystanders by suspects in foot chases would also be covered by the law.